An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Henrico College, Virginia

In 1618 the London Company ratified a former grant whereby a suitable place at Henrico, Virginia, was set aside to establish a university. Ten thousand acres were allotted for endowing the university. George Thorpe was sent from England to supervise the construction. The Rev. Thomas Bargrave (d. 1621), rector of the Henrico parish, donated his library. On Mar. 22, 1622 (Good Friday), Chief Openchancanough and his Indians killed Thorpe and about 400 colonists. The charter for the school was revoked on June 16, 1624. This would have been the first college in the American colonies.

Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.